01/05/2025
𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐖𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭
National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) granted a Php 30 daily minimum wage increase in Cagayan Valley in October 2024. This raised the daily minimum wage to Php 480 for non-agriculture workers and Php 460 for agriculture workers. However, this increase is not enough. With the country's rising economy, Php 500 can only buy a few items.
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) stated that in 2023, a family of five needed at least Php 𝟏𝟑,𝟖𝟕𝟑 𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 for basic needs, including food (around Php 𝟒𝟒𝟕 𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐲 for a family of five, or roughly P90 per person per day). Many Filipinos, especially minimum wage earners, have much tighter budgets. The cost of living is high, but wages remain low.
Consider a worker who dedicates a full day to their labor. In some countries, their earnings readily cover their basic needs. These include sufficient food for their family, money for essential utilities, and perhaps a small amount for additional expenses. Now, consider the situation in our country. In the Philippines, a full day's work often barely covers these needs, showing a 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚.
The Philippines has high rates of both underemployment and unemployment, and poverty rates are also high. Despite a 5.2% economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 (according to PSA), this growth isn't benefiting workers. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫.
Many Filipinos work abroad to afford their daily needs. Neighboring countries like Vietnam and Thailand have almost similar minimum wages, but the cost of basic needs is more balanced, making them attractive to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Countries like Canada and the US are popular because of favorable exchange rates. This highlights the Philippines' economic challenges. Many Filipinos seek work abroad due to economic instability at home. Job creation is slow because of low investment in agriculture and industry. Available jobs often pay very low wages compared to the effort required.
The current minimum wage is not enough to support a decent life. The government has to recognize rising prices and adjust wages accordingly. Workers deserve wages that cover their needs, allow for savings, and ensure their effort and dedication are justly recognized and rewarded. Thus, 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 is not a luxury—𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. Until wages catch up to the true cost of living, no person will live under the pressure of 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎 𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅.
𝗣𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗸𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼! 𝗠𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼!🛠️✊
🖼️ Noel Andrei Dulay
